Journal-box.



PATENTED NOV. 10, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w N w n N Q mm W H. c. MGGABTY.. JOURNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

No. 743,653. PATENTED NOV. 10, 1903-. I

H. G. MGGARTY. JOURNAL BOX.

, APPLIOATION FILED 001 .20, 1902.

no MODEL. z SHEETS SHEBT 2;

Nrrnn STATES ren't racemes November 10, mos.

JOURNAL-BOX.

SEEGIFICATIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,653, dated November 10, 1 903.

' Application filed October 20,1902. Serial 1%. 127,972. (No model.)

To aZ-Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that LHA RY O. MOCARTY, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal- Boxes, of which the following is a specifica-- it will be understood that my present improvements are equally adapted for use with other forms. In a former application filed by me on the 30th dayof January, 1902, I have set forth certain improvements in this class of inventions, and wherein is employed a journal-box preferably (though not essentially) constructed with a single wall at the back or inner end thereof and a dust-guard fitting flatly against the inner side of said wall with the vertical edges thereof in contact with adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the box. In the embodiment referred to the dust-guard is of an absorbent character, by whichto take up lubricant from the interior of the box, and the same also possesses the inherent quality of resiliency, whereby is imparted thereto the capacity to 1 right itself to position after flexure thereof caused by dippingofthejournal in the box,the position of said dust guard being also assisted to be maintained bymeans of fibrous packing or waste, suchas is ordinarily employed in many forms of journal-boxes in use upon railway-cars and other vehicles. The said embodiment has been found to be both practicable and thoroughly advantageous in use, though the present invention has for its obj ect to provide a flexible absorbent dust-guard of increased stifiness and resiliency and one possessing greater strength and wearing capacity, besides being easily and cheaply manufactured and thoroughly effective in the performance of the intended function thereof.

A further object is to provide simple and effective means whereby the dust-guard is reliably supported in position within the journal-box, and also whereby the efficiency thereof is increased under all conditions.

These and additional objects are attained by means substan tiallysuch as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Y Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a journal-box and dust-guard therefor embodying my present improvements, said view showing the axle and itsjonrnal partly broken away by which to indicate the means employed for holding or supporting the dustguard in position within the box. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of Fig. 1,

taken on thelinenca: thereof. Fig. 3 is a side view,'in detail, of the dust-guard; and Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view ofa portion of a journal-box, showing the dust-guard in place and representing one form of the supporting means therefor. Fig. 6is a view in perspective of a portion of a journal-box (minus the dustguard) constructed substantially in accordance with the form shown in the preceding figure. Fig. 7isa vertical transverse sectional view similar to'Fig. 2 and showing a slight difference in the organization of the supporting means for the dust-guard. Fig. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section and minus the dust-guard, of a'portion of a journal-box, showing like means as are shown in Fig. 6 for retaining the dust-guard in position within the box. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 7,

representinga journal-box of slightly-different form and alsoshowing a modification of the construction and organization both of the dust-guard and the retaining devices therefor. Fig. 10 is a perspective view, in part section and minus the dust-guard, of a portion of journal-box of the form represented in Fig. 9, the form of retaining devices for the dust-guard being also the same as in said latter figure.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that the dustguard of my present improvements is not limited to its use with a journalbox having but a'single wall at the back or inner end thereof, since the same may be employed with sertion of the guard can only be accomplished with comparative difficulty and loss of time I preferablyemploy herein special means for retaining the dust-guard in operative position within the box, said means also enabling the guard to be properly seated in place from the front or outer end of the box. In the embodiment shown and described in my former application referred to the lubricant-chamber within the journal-box is sometimes provided for a suitable height with Waste or fibrous packing, as is common in many instances, and such waste or packing is preferably utilized as a means of supporting the dust-guard in position, although this is not always es- 'sential; but with the special construction of journal-box herein employed I am enabled to dispense with the use of waste or packing of any kind and to simply place a suitable quantity of some ordinary lubricant within the box, accordingly as may be desired. In the present instance also the dust-guard is maintained flatly against the innerside of the wall at the back or inner end of the journal-box, and said guard is both flexible and resilient and also possesses the capacity to absorb lubricant from the chamber in the box. Under stress thereto, caused by dipping of the journal in the box, the said dust-guard yields inwardly by flexing, and on each return of the journal to substantially a horizontal position the guard rights itself therewith. Said guard may or may not-be of substantially equal dimensions with the inner side of the back or inner Wall of the box, according to the particular location of the retaining devices therefor, the said retaining devices operating to hold the guard preferably at two or more edges thereof, as may be desired in practice. My present improved guard may moreover be constructed ofany preferred material and of any desired shape or configuration, and it may be added that-the same is light in weight and not liable to get out of order even after long and continued use thereof.

Specific reference being had to the accompanying drawings by the designating characters marked thereon, A, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, represents a journal-box which may be of any desired construction, but which is preferably shown herein as of the type frequently employed upon railway-cars, the said box being closed at the front or outer end thereof by means of a cover or lid a of ordinary construction and which may be readily removed or swung to open position for the purpose of access to the interior Z) of the box, as is apparent. In said figures the bottom of the journal-box is shown as curved or semicircular in form, While the side Walls 0 0 thereof are straight or vertical, and the top or upper portion dis preferably flat or substantially horizontal, also as shown. The back or inner end of the box is preferably constructed of a single straight or vertical wall B, intersecting the walls 0 c and having therein a central circular opening e, through which extends the journal 9 of an axle h, the said journal, as well as the portion 11 of the axle, being located entirely Within the box, with the surface of said axle portion 1 constituting a bearing for the dust-guard O, presently to be described. The end of the journal is formed or provided with the usual flange or collar m, and the journal-bearing 5 is'maintained in position relatively to the journal by means of an ordinary key or equivalent means, (indicated at n.) The said top or upper portion d of the journal-box may be formed or provided with a seat 6 for the ordinaryequalizing-bar, (not shown,) and it should be stated that the interior b of the box constitutes a chamber for containing any suitable lubricating medium for the journal.

The dust-guard O is constructed of any suitable material and is formed with a central opening 8, (see Fig. 3,) the edge or Wall 9 of which has a bearing upon the surface portion 2' of the axle hereinbefore referred to, and, as will be observed, the said guard is preferably of such width that the vertical edges thereof are in contact with the adjacent surface portions of the side walls of the journal-box, the guard being thus prevented from turning with the axle, as is apparent, and also prevented to a large extent from inward displacementupontheshaft. Thedust-guard is preferably composite in character and comprises a section or lamina 10 of flexible absorbent material, as canvas or duck, and a similar section or lamina 12 of flexible resilient material, as spring brass or steel, and this construction gives to said guard the capacity to straighten out or right itself after flexure thereof caused by dipping or similar movements of the axle and journal in operation. The section or lamina 10 of the guard operates by capillary attraction to absorb lubricant from the chamber 1) of the box, to thus continually supply ample quantities of such lubricant to the bearing for the guard upon the axle. The embodiment or organization of elements thus far described is similar in many respects to the embodiment or organization comprised in my former application referred to; but in order to absolutely prevent displacement of the dust-guard within the box I herein employ special retaining devicesfor said guard, and while said retaining devices may be constructed in various ways I prefer that they shall constitute'an integral part of either the two side walls of the box or the top and bottom thereof, or both, although they could be formed with the wall B at the back or inner end of the box, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Thus in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6 of the drawings the said retaining devices are shown in the form of simple vertical ribs or flanges 15 15, preferably cast at corresponding points on the inner surfaces of the side Walls 0 c of the box a suitable distance from the adjacent surface of the Wall B, the spaces between said ribs or flanges and IOC tag,

way to adjacent portions of the inner surfaces of the top 17 and bottom 18 of the journalbox D, and it is apparent that this construction is equally effective as the one previously described. 7

In Figs. 9 and 10' the journal-box E is indicated as substantially square or rectangular in transverse section,and, if desired, the retaining devices of either of the above-described forms may be employed in connection therewith. Preferably, however, in this embodiment I form or provide the retaining devices on both the inner sides of the vertical.

walls 19 of the box and'the top 20 and bottom 21 thereof, said devices in this instance also comprising similar ribs or flanges 21 and 22, standing inwardly of the box a suitable distance from the inner surface of the inner end wall thereof, so as to form recesses or sockets for receiving corresponding portions of the edges ofthe dust-guard. In this particular embodiment of my invention, Fig. 9, I have also represented the resilient element of my improved dust-guard in the form of a framelike structure of flat strips of suitable metal, which may be either formed integrally or of separate pieces, as may be desired, and while the outer dimensions of said structure may be substantially equal to the outer dimensionsof the absorbent element (duck or canvas) of the guard I prefer to make the same a little less, as shown, since such construction may be desirable for several reasons.

ner the resilient element of the dust-guard shown in the preceding figures is also a little less in height and width than the absorbent element; but it will be understood that in In like maneither case the two said elements may be of the same size, if desired.

In each of the forms herein shown the retaining devices are preferably less in height or length than the dimensions of the inner surfaces of the sides or top and bottom por tions of the box, since in so forming them a considerable saving of material is efiected; but it is apparent that they could be made of greater height or length, if desired. It is also apparent that other immaterial changes of construction and organization of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of my invention. Forinstance, instead of forming the resilient element of the guard as herein shown and described the said element may be constituted of fiat ribbons of steel, or the same may be of wire or strips of tin or other suitable metal properly located in position. As regards the retaining devices themselves it is apparent, of course, that the function thereof is the same irrespective of the particular character of materials employed in the construction of said dustguard.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A journal-box having near its inner end a set of integral ribs, and also having a wall closing said end, in combination with a dustguard of a size to be sprung into position between said wall and said ribs and consisting of a layer of pliant fibrous material attached to a framing of sheet metal.

2. A journal-box having near its inner end a set of integral ribs, and also having an integral wall inclosing said end, in combination Witha dust-guard of a size to be sprung into position past said ribs and consisting of a layerof pliant fibrous material attached to a stiffer framing of sheet material, the edges of the said layer projecting beyond the edges of the said framing.

W. S. HILL, T. N. SMITH. 

